Like a wild beast, Hill charged forward unarmed. Blocked by Rein's Mental Force Manifestation shield, he slammed his fist into it. For a split second, Rein felt as if his Mental Force had been struck by a high-speed dragon.
Even manifested, Mental Force remained an inseparable part of the human brain. Attacks on it risked severe brain damage. That’s why most Mages avoided learning Mental Force Manifestation—it was far too dangerous.
Rein relied on his innate talent and near-limitless Arcane Power reserves. His mentor had once said he needn’t master many offensive spells. His Mental Force Manifestation alone outclassed any third-tier or lower attack magic. That’s how he’d perfected it.
But now, with dwindling Arcane Power, his Mental Force grew fragile. Each blow jarred his brain, giving him a splitting headache. If he kept fighting, he’d likely die here.
Desperate, Rein activated his Detection Spell. Hill’s fate glowed bright red—a hue signifying life or death through battle. Clearly, she leaned toward the latter. If she persisted, after killing Rein, her own end would follow.
Just then, a thunderous boom split the sky. Sophia, clad in the distinctive armor of a Vindictive Knight, descended. She landed a solid punch on Hill’s face, sending the nearly berserk woman flying into a nearby stable.
"Sophia..." Rein blurted instinctively, then instantly regretted his slip.
"So it’s you, little Rein!" Sophia called out. "Didn’t expect your magic to be this strong! But step aside, please. I’ve got personal scores to settle with Hill alone."
"Oh... okay. Be careful!" Rein didn’t hesitate. He vanished down a dark alley.
"Alright, let’s see what you’ve got, kid!" Hill leaped from the stable, swinging a massive wooden club at Sophia’s head. Sophia crossed her arms, blocking the blow. With a crack of splintering wood, her voice cut through the night: "Vindictive: Strong Assault!"
Sophia sidestepped slightly, then drove a shoulder charge into Hill’s chest. The impact shoved Hill back several meters.
This wasn’t some fancy martial art—just a standard Vindictive Knight combat move. Training taught that shouting move names against human foes boosted morale.
"Vindictive: Disarm!" Seeing Hill dazed, Sophia rushed in. Her fists targeted Hill’s arm joints with rapid strikes, stifling counterattacks. She then shifted to vulnerable spots like the waist and abdomen. But Sophia held back her strength. Despite their strained relationship, they were comrades. Killing Hill would ruin her too.
After a flurry of blows, Sophia knocked Hill to the ground. Only then did she breathe easier. No major wounds inflicted, and she’d scratched her combat itch. A win-win outcome.
Turning, Sophia spotted Rachel frozen in shock at the doorway. "Want to leave? I won’t stop you. Go on!" Sophia called, no hostility in her tone.
"Behind you!" Rachel yelled, then sprinted toward the town exit like she’d seen a monster.
"Behind me?" Sophia spun around. Hill stood up—but the golden light on her body had shifted to silvery white. A floating silver halo hovered above her head, angelic yet eerie.
As a Holy See member, Sophia recognized this instantly. When a Combat Nun overused Holy Light and suffered a near-fatal wound, the "Rune of Heaven’s Chains"—a betrayal safeguard—activated. It seized control of her actions, including combat.
"Enemy..."
"Whoa! This looks bad!" Sophia frowned. She’d held back every punch. How had that triggered a fatal-wound rune? She couldn’t fathom it.
